The greatest gold

When the Barcelona Olympics opened in 1992 Sweden had a thirst for gold. The last Olympic gold medal from the Los Angeles Games in 1984 had started to lose its lustre back home. When Waldner and Frenchman Gatien line up at the final table in the Polisportiu Estacio del Nord arena, King Carl XVI Gustaf is looking on. He loves sport and knows perfectly well that the Kingdom had not taken an Olympic gold in 8 years.

Waldner down on the floor with racket in hand, feeling the pressure. The excitement among the spectators from Sweden and around the world is at fever pitch. He is the favourite. He has five years behind him as a global name in table tennis. He had already made history when Sweden beat China in the team World Championships in Dortmund in 1989. He also won the singles final over team mate Jörgen Persson. As a result, Sweden became one of the very top nations in table tennis.

A king in the stands, and a king on the floor at the table. Waldner was certainly world champion, but he also had difficulties winning major titles. To win Olympic gold he must now perform as he did in Dortmund – on his toes from the very beginning and focusing on points instead of the applause for his trick shots. But his main weapon – relaxation – could also be his downfall. Relaxation, which fuelled his creativity, could also make him passive.

The final against the left-handed Gatien was a sensational battle in which two very different styles were pitted against each other. The Frenchman's short knock-out shots against Waldner's safer and more intricate technique. However, Waldner increases his risk taking and uses the laws of physics in an ingenious way to gain an advantage: The faster the ball is hit, the faster the return will be.

Waldner positions himself securely by the edge of the table and mercilessly ricochets the Frenchman's short rounds.

Both kings had their long-awaited gold. And on the bench Waldner's triumphant coach Anders Thunström rejoices: “He did what I said: You can't defend titles. You must win them!"
 

Read the thrilling story of Waldner securing Olympic gold in Barcelona »

J-O:s medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships